Sunday, September 4, 2011

Mechanical OCD

There seems to be a micro-trend in design for super organized layouts. Precise shapes with clear definition of lines, reboots the mind in the same way minimalist fashion counters a more kitschy aesthetic. I don't have a preference for one or the other; but I think what makes this 'resurgence of clean' meaningful is the usage of subjects that are usually not associated with simplicity.

An example of such visuals in recent times, is the widely hyped - making of the Ikea cookbook video 'Homemade is the Best'. It certainly changed my perceived notion of baking being messy. If you haven't seen it already, you must...its really a treat for the eyes!

Todd Mclellan's'Disassembly' project is a series of images depicting the deconstruction of period mechanical objects, shot in two different ways. The first is where the object appears to shatter apart in mid-air, revealing it's component parts. The second is what actually drew my attention to Mclellan's work; the said component parts laid out on a plain background, in an almost OCD-like manner. The two sets of images together create a stimulating graphic impact, where the viewer attempts to put the parts together; like pieces of a puzzle.